On December 2nd Miguel Cotto enters the ring at Madison Square Garden to face Sadam Ali. This fight is special because it is the final time we get to see the boxer from Caguas, Puerto Rico in action. The future Hall of Famer holds a career full of ups, downs and ups. We thought it a fitting time to look back those moments that show why Cotto leaves behind a great boxing legacy.
Boxing History Against Sergio Martinez
When you make boxing history it’s pretty hard to exclude the accomplishment from your resume. That’s precisely what Cotto accomplished in facing WBC and lineal middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. He came up in weight to challenge Martinez for his middleweight crown. On June 7, 2014 the action ensued at the opening bell, Cotto knocking Martinez down no less than three times in the first round. A round that coincidentally was nominated for round of the year honors in 2014. Miguel knocked down Martinez once more in the ninth round for good measure, before Martinez quit on his stool. With the victory Cotto put himself in the record books becoming the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four different weight classes.
The night he becomes an “A-Side” Fighter after the jump…
Becoming an ‘A-Side Fighter’ Against Shane Mosely
Miguel met Shane Mosely on November 10, 2007 at his home away from home – Madison Square Garden. At the time many viewed Mosely as being on the back-end of a brilliant career and the Olympian from Caguas at the beginning of one. He would go on to win by a unanimous decision, but the fight was closer than the end result. During the course of the fight the boxer took Moseley’s best and continued to be effective with repeated right hands. However, in the later rounds Mosley displayed more aggression and at one point even became the aggressor. East Side boxing described Cotto’s performance as “a rare moment in sports when a sudden star rises from what is categorically termed as goodness, to the cusp of greatness.” The fight was a test, to see if Cotto was in fact an “A-Side” fighter. That night he proved he was.
Humbling Floyd Mayweather
Rarely would you see a loss become a career highlight. However, in the case of Olympian from Puerto Rico, an argument can be made that his 12 round unanimous decision defeat against Floyd Mayweather was indeed that.
The two met on Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2012, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. During the fight, Cotto established himself as the fight’s aggressor, yet a crafty Mayweather employed effective counter-punching and body movement to mute attacks. Mayweather was not entirely successful in this approach, through nine rounds the action was close. With Mayweather bleeding from the nose and in more trouble than ever. At this point in the fight Cotto actually appeared to be ahead. Ultimately Mayweather managed to adjust to Cotto’s rhythm of attacking. He used counter-punching style to win the final three rounds and secure a victory. But, Mayweather and the world was put on notice. If you send for Miguel Cotto, he will answer the call. When they hugged at the end, Mayweather told Cotto, “You are a hell of a champion — the toughest guy I fought.” An assertion which Mayweather makes to this day. The fight got Cotto an entirely new level of appreciation and respect.
An All Out War with Joshua Clottey
In one of the most action-packed fights of his career, Miguel Cotto faced the Ghanaian fighter in front of over 17,000 at the Garden. Cotto scored a knockdown in round one, however, in the third round an accidental head clash opened a severe cut over Cotto’s left eye. The boxer was able to control the pace up to round six, when Clottey then went on to controlled the offensive, noticing that Cotto was unable to see right punches. During the last rounds, Cotto made the adjustments and fought from the outside. The strategy would work and get him a closely contested split decision.
Cotto Gets Revenge Against Antonio Margarito
A grudge match for the ages. In a rematch, Cotto faced Antonio Margarito on December 3, 2011, once again at the mecca of boxing – Madison Square Garden. Margarito defeated Cotto in the initial bout. Yet it wasn’t just any loss, Margarito administered a beating that some fighters never recover from. Many felt Cotto was never the same, that the fight fractured his spirit. Subsequent to the bout it was discovered that Margarito had attempted to use loaded gloves. Raising the possibility that it had also occurred when Margarito faced Cotto.
To add to the drama, the New York State Athletic Commission initially denied Margarito a boxing license for the fight. The reason for the denial was not due the cheating allegations, but instead the damage to Margarito’s eye sustained in his prior fight with Manny Pacquiao. Upon appeal Margarito was permitted to fight, yet, Cotto told media he would indeed target the eye in the bout.
In front of of 21,239 he avenged the defeat stopping Margarito in the 10th round. Attributable tothe condition of the same eye that almost kept the fight from taking place. At the time of stoppage, Cotto was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards. However, the this was more than a victory, many viewed it as the correction of an injustice. The win would prove cathartic for Cotto and would help him exercise revenge and some demons that haunted him as Cotto himself recently told HBO’s Jim Lampley it was the most satisfying moment of his career.
